Introducing Chicago

Soaring skyward from the Midwestern prairies, Chicago has the can­do spirit that defines great American cities. The engine of Westward expansion, Chicago reached its zenith during the industrial age. The city rose from the ashes of the great fire of 1871 to redefine American urban architecture. The city remains an economic powerhouse and delivers all the excitement of a pulsating metropolis with a small­town spirit and refreshing lack of pretension that stays true to its blue collar roots. Millions of tourists visit Chicago to pay homage to its pioneering architecture, feel the raw energy of the downtown Loop, marvel at the Impressionist paintings at the Art Institute, taste what is, arguably, the biggest and best steak in the U.S., shop the chain stores of Michigan Avenue and the designer boutiques of the Gold Coast. Along with its compelling history and a panoply of world-class museums and galleries, Chicago is one of America’s great lifestyle cities, defined by its irrepressible embrace of the moment. As the mercury rises, Chicagoans take to the city’s beaches and lakefront paths to stroll, cycle, rollerblade, and run. Chicago is a cultural crossroads. In the city’s distinct neighborhoods, gorgeous brownstone mansions and Victorian homes punctuate tree lined streets where the rituals of first generation immigrants coexist with the classic Americana of hot dogs, pizza, and baseball.